Turkey: bill not declaration of war against Syria

Turks hold banners that read" No to War" during a debate at Turkey's parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. Turkey fired on Syrian targets for a second day Thursday, but said it has no intention of declaring war, despite tensions after deadly shelling from Syria killed five civilians in a Turkish border town.Turkey's Parliament, meanwhile, began an emergency session to discuss a bill authorizing the military to launch cross border operations in Syria. If approved, the bill could more easily open the way to unilateral action by Turkey's armed forces inside Syria, without the involvement of its Western and Arab allies.(AP Photo)

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s deputy prime minister says a bill approved by the Turkish parliament authorizing the use of force in Syria is not a declaration of war but is intended as a deterrent against its neighbor.

Besir Atalay told reporters after the vote on Thursday: “The bill is not for war... It has deterrent qualities.”

Parliament voted 320-129 in favor of the bill that authorizes the military to conduct cross-border operations in Syria, a day after a deadly shelling from the Syrian territory killed five civilians.